title: Expression of neurotrophin 3 and its tropomyosin-related kinase receptor C in human preantral follicles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of neurotrophin 3 (NT3) and its receptor tropomyosin-related kinase C (TrkC) in human preantral follicles. Neurotrophins appear to play important roles in preantral follicles. Data on ovarian NT3 and its receptor TrkC are sparse in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical, in situ hybridization, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction study of the expression of the NT3 system in human ovaries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Major tertiary-care academic center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients who underwent pregnancy terminations and 36 girls and women who underwent laparoscopies for ovarian surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory analysis of human ovaries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NT3 protein staining was identified in oocytes and granulosa cells (GCs) of all samples tested. TrkC protein staining was present in oocytes and GCs of the majority of the fetal samples and in oocytes and GCs of all samples from girls and women. The messenger RNA transcripts for the full-length TrkC isoform were identified in oocytes of the majority of the fetal samples, in all the samples from the girls and women, and in GCs from the girls and women. The two NT3 isoforms and the three TrkC isoforms were identified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in all ovarian extracts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of NT3 and its TrkC receptor in human preantral follicles, and specifically in GCs, suggests that NT3 may be involved in early folliculogenesis, particularly in the activation of primordial follicles.
authors.affiliation: Infertility and IVF Unit, Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Galia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oron
authors.forename: Asangla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ao
authors.forename: Or
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fisch
authors.forename: Xiao Yun
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben-Haroush
authors.forename: Yoav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peled
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D020933:Neurotrophin 3 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020812:Receptor, trkC / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D020812:Receptor, trkC